Mahseer Trust representatives were present at the launch of the new conservation initiative, Shoal, which has been set up to protect and conserve the most threatened freshwater fish species in the world.
MT Chairman Ian Pett, and Trustees Adrian Pinder and Andy Harrison were at the event, which showcased Project Mahseer as their priority launch project. Also present was River Monsters and Mighty Rivers TV star (and MT Patron) Jeremy Wade, who gave a fascinating talk on the challenges and opportunities in freshwater fish conservation.
Project Mahseer is a collaborative initiative to conserve the enigmatic and highly threatened mighty mahseers of the family Cyprinidae. In doing so, the project will contribute towards the protection and sustainable management of some of Asia’s most iconic river systems. The initial priority for Project Mahseer is the conservation and recovery of the hump-backed mahseer, a species endemic to the Cauvery river basin in southern India. Its population has plummeted since the turn of the century and it is now listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Project Mahseer aims to deliver the necessary conservation actions to save this remarkable species and its habitat for future generations.
To find out more, visit https://shoalconservation.org/project/project-mahseer/